Cannabis Freedom Index
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Ethiopia

Africa

Prohibition

#123 of 196 worldwide
#28 of 54 in Africa

Recreational: IllegalMedical: None

Possession for personal use is reported to bring six months to five years; cultivation and sale up to fifteen.

Score breakdown ▏world average

Select a segment to show or hide the exact rules and sources.

Possession · 25%1/10
adds 2.5 of 25 points

Illegal under Article 525 of the 2004 Criminal Code, which also penalises unlawful use. Possession for personal use is reported to bring six months to five years depending on quantity and record.

Personal cultivation · 25%1/10
adds 2.5 of 25 points

Cultivation can bring up to fifteen years where commercial intent is shown.

Punishment & enforcement · 20%1/10
adds 2.0 of 20 points

Prison is a real possibility for users; checks at Addis Ababa's airport are routine.

Sharing & gifting · 10%1/10
adds 1.0 of 10 points

Trafficking and sale carry up to fifteen years.

Consumption · 10%1/10
adds 1.0 of 10 points

Use is an offence. This applies equally in Shashamane, the Rastafari settlement, despite its reputation.

Legal access · 10%0/10
adds 0.0 of 10 points

None.

More context not part of the score

Commercial production

None.

Products

None.

Medical use

No medical cannabis.

Other consequences

A conviction is a criminal record; foreigners are deported.

All sources

  1. CannabisRegulations.ai — Is weed legal in Ethiopia?
  2. Leafwell — Is marijuana legal in Ethiopia?

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